Bill C-218 introduced to prevent euthanasia for mental illness alone.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Tamara Jansen MP

I have great news.

On June 20, 2025, Tamara Jansen (MP - Cloverdale - Langley City) introduced private members Bill C-218 in the House of Commons to prevent (MAiD) euthanasia for mental illness by excluding mental illness from being considered a "grievous and irremediable medical condition" for the purposes of MAiD. If passed, no one will be eligible for MAID for mental illness alone.

Bill C-218 will likely receive it's first hour of debate in November 2025.

When Canada expanded the euthanasia law in March 2021 by passing Bill C-7, one of the expansions in the law permitted euthanasia for a mental illness alone. At that time the government approved euthanasia for mental illness alone with a two-year moratorium to give time to prepare.

After two delays, last year the government further delayed the implementation of euthanasia for mental illness alone until March 17, 2027

For Bill C-218 to be successful, we will need stories from Canadians who have lived with, (or currently live with) mental health concerns and may have died by euthanasia (MAiD) if it had been available at that time. Contact us with your story at: info@epcc.ca

It is not easy to share stories, but the courage to share your suffering may lead to protection for other people.

A February 2023, Angus Reid Institute poll indicated that 31% of Canadians supported euthanasia for mental illness alone, with the highest support being in Quebec (36%) and the lowest support being in Saskatchewan (21%). A September 2023, Angus Reid Institute poll indicated that support for euthanasia for mental illness alone had dropped to 28% of Canadians.

Bill C-218 is identical to Bill C-314 that was sponsored by the Hon. Ed Fast and narrowly defeated in parliament by a vote of 167 to 150 on October 18, 2023.

The Bill C-314 debate prompted the government to delay the implementation of euthanasia for mental illness alone until March 17, 2027. 

During the Bill C-314 debate many Canadians came forward with powerful personal stories that witnessed to the fact that people who are living with mental health concerns that suicidal ideation is often a symptom of mental health concerns.

For Bill C-218 to be successful, we will need stories from Canadians who have lived with, (or currently live with) mental health concerns and may have died by euthanasia (MAiD) if it had been available at that time. Contact us with your story at: info@epcc.ca

Bill C-218: (Link to Bill C-218)

An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying)

R.‍S.‍, c. 46
Criminal Code
1 Subsection 241.‍2(2.‍1) of the Criminal Code is replaced by the following:

Exclusion
(2.‍1) For the purposes of Insertion start subsection (2) Insertion end, a mental Insertion start disorder Insertion end is not Insertion start a grievous and irremediable medical condition Insertion end.

Coordinating Amendments
2 (1) In this section, other Act means An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying), chapter 2 of the Statutes of Canada, 2021.
(2) If section 1 of this Act comes into force before subsection 1(2.‍1) of the other Act, then that subsection 1(2.‍1) is repealed.‍
(3) If subsection 1(2.‍1) of the other Act comes into force before section 1 of this Act, then section 241.‍2 of the Criminal Code is amended by adding the following after subsection (2):

Exclusion
(2.‍1) For the purposes of subsection (2), a mental disorder is not a grievous and irremediable medical condition.
(4) If subsection 1(2.‍1) of the other Act comes into force on the same day as section 1 of this Act, then that subsection 1(2.‍1) is deemed to have come into force before that section 1 and subsection (3) applies as a consequence.

More articles on this topic:

• Has Canada's euthanasia law gone too far? (Link)
• Psychiatrists: Do we offer hope or do we offer death (Link).
• The majority of Canadian oppose euthanasia for mental health (Link).
• Canada's euthanasia law is the most permissive in the world (Link).
• Canada to delay implementing euthanasia for mental illness (Link).
• Toronto Star: Canada is going too far with euthanasia (Link).
• Globe and Mail Editorial: No to euthanasia for mental disorders (Link).
• Euthanasia panel member quit: Proposals don't adequately protect Canadians with mental illness (Link).
• Offering euthanasia to a suicidal person leads to premature deaths (Link).
• Euthanizing the mentally ill without providing proper supports is reprehensible (Link).
• Euthanasia for mental illness. Killing people with an uncertain prognosis (Link).
• Profound social change with euthanasia for mental illness (Link).

The federal government plans to pause euthanasia for mental illness until March, 2027.

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition calls on Members of Parliament to reject euthanasia for mental illness.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Canada's Health Minister, Mark Holland, has introduced a bill that would delay the implementation of euthanasia for mental illness until March, 2027.

Stephanie Taylor and Laura Osman reported for the Canadian Press that:

Health Minister Mark Holland introduced legislation that, if passed, would postpone the government's plan to expand the medical assistance in dying program until March 2027.

It would be the second such delay for the expansion, after Liberals added a year to the timeline just before the change was supposed to take effect last March.

Now, the next implementation date is being pushed well past the next federal election, which must happen no later than fall 2025.

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition is pleased with the delay, but we will be urging all Members of Parliament to reject euthanasia for mental illness. When considering that most Canadians who support euthanasia do so based on the person being terminally ill and capable of consenting, people who ask for euthanasia based on mental illness alone are not terminally ill and have a questionable ability to consent.

Join our campaign by ordering parliamentary post-cards (above) that state: I demand that the government reverse its decision to permit “MAiD” for mental illness alone. The cards are ordered for free by contacting EPC at: 1-877-439-3348 or email: office@epcc.ca.

The decision by Health Minister Holland will make this issue an election "wedge issue" as stated by The Canadian Press report:

Should he form the next government, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has pledged to scrap the expansion altogether.

Nearly every Province asked for the delay and Québec passed legislation last year prohibiting euthanasia for mental illness. The Canadian Press reported:

Quebec passed its own provincial law last year to exclude adults from accessing a medically assisted death solely for a mental disorder.

A spokesperson for the Manitoba government says it welcomes the three-year extension, while Alberta maintains its belief that assisted dying for medical disorders doesn't belong in health care at all.

"While we are pleased to know this is not happening next month, our call remains on the federal government to indefinitely delay and stop this policy from ever existing in Canada," Dan Williams, its mental health and addiction minister, said in a statement.

Euthanasia activist Senators Stan Kutcher and Pamela Wallin argued that delaying euthanasia for people with mental illness discriminates against their rights.

It was Senator Kutcher who originally introduced the amendment to Bill C-7 to permit euthanasia for mental illness alone and Senator Wallin has been promoting euthanasia by advanced request.

EPC thanks Hon Ed Fast who sponsored Bill C-314, a bill that would have removed euthanasia for mental illness in Canada's law. The bill was defeated last fall by a vote of 167 to 150 but the excellent debate around Bill C-314 that motivated people to pressure the government to not implement euthanasia for mental illness.

As stated earlier, EPC welcomes the delay in implementing euthanasia for mental illness but we continue to urge all members of parliament to reject the concept of euthanasia for mental illness and we will be active in the next election reminding Canadian which Members of Parliament voted against Bill C-314.

Tell your Member of Parliament to oppose euthanasia for mental illness.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Canada’s federal Justice Minister, Hon Arif Virani stated in December, 2023 that the government is considering "hitting the pause button" on euthanasia for mental illness. Members of Parliament will return from their break next week. 

The government has not stated it's intention on the issue but you need to tell your representatives that you oppose euthanasia for mental illness.

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (EPC) launched a campaign to stop euthanasia for mental illness. 

Join our campaign by ordering parliamentary post-cards (above) that state: I demand that the government reverse its decision to permit “MAiD” for mental illness alone. The cards are ordered for free by contacting EPC at: 1-877-439-3348 or email: office@epcc.ca.

EPC also launched a petition (Petition Link) to the Justice Minister and the Justice Critics urging the Canadian government to reverse the decision to permit euthanasia for mental illness and demanding that Canadians with mental illness not be abandoned to death by euthanasia (“MAiD”).

EPC is also sending a copy of Tyler Dunlop's book: Therefore Choose Life—My Journey from Hopelessness to Hope to every Member of Parliament.

When Canada expanded the euthanasia law in March 2021 (Bill C-7), one of the expansions in the law was to permit euthanasia for mental illness alone. At that time the government decided to approve euthanasia for mental illness but with a two-year moratorium to give the government time to prepare.

Early last year the government delayed the implementation of euthanasia for mental illness for another year. Canada is currently scheduled to permit euthanasia for mental illness on March 17, 2024.

Last year, the Hon Ed Fast sponsored Bill C-314, a bill that would have prohibited the government from permitting euthanasia for mental illness. Bill C-314 was defeated by a vote of 167 to 150 but 8 Liberals, every NDP and every Conservative Member of Parliament supported Bill C-314. This led to the government considering reversing their position on euthanasia for mental illness.

Canadians oppose euthanasia for mental illness.

In February 2023, the Angus Reid Institute published a poll indicating that 31% of Canadians supported euthanasia for mental illness alone, with the highest support being in Quebec (36%) and the lowest support being in Saskatchewan (21%). In September 2023, the Angus Reid Institute conducted another poll which indicated that support for euthanasia for mental illness had dropped to 28% of Canadians.

Dr K Sonu Gaind

A Globe and Mail editorial published on November 4, 2023 quoted Dr. K Sonu Gaind, Chief of Psychiatry at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, who stated that there is "absolutely no consensus" as to what constitutes an irremediable medical condition when it comes to patients with mental illness. The comment by Dr Gaind is important because the law requires that a person must have an irremediable medical condition to be approved for euthanasia.

The Federal government sponsored a conference on euthanasia for mental illness in October in Victoria BC where it was argued that certain addictions are linked to mental illness and therefore euthanasia for mental illness could include people with addictions.

Similar to people with disabilities, people with mental health issues are more likely to live in poverty, to be homeless or to struggle to obtain the medical treatment that they need.

More articles on this topic: 

• Join our campaign to stop euthanasia for mental illness (Link).
• Euthanasia for drug addicts is an outcome of euthanasia for mental illness (Link).
• Canada's government may pause the implementation of euthanasia for mental illness. (Link)
• Canada passes Bill C-7 - permitting euthanasia for mental illness. (Link)
• Canada to delay euthanasia for mental illness until March 2024. (Link)
• The majority of Canadians oppose euthanasia for mental health. (Link)
• 28% of Canadians support euthanasia for mental illness. (Link)
• Bill C-314 defeated. Parliament divided on euthanasia for mental illness. (Link)
• Veterans Affairs Canada worker advocates euthanasia for PTSD. (Link)
• Canadian Quadriplegic woman approved to die by euthanasia faster than it takes to get needed disability benefits (Link)
• Canadian woman offered euthanasia as a "treatment option" during a mental health crisis. (Link)
• Globe and Mail editorial urges federal government to withdraw euthanasia for mental illness. (Link) 
• The problem with Canada's MAiD policy (Link)
  
• Ontario man seeks euthanasia to avoid homelessness. (Link)
• Why did they kill my brother. (Link)

2023 Euthanasia Prevention Coalition Year in Review

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (EPC) blog had almost 1.1 million blog articles read in 2023. 2023 was an active year for news related to euthanasia and assisted suicide. This article shares many of the most important stories.

We encourage you to renew your EPC ($25) membership (Link).

In early January 2023 we reported that a Colorado man accidentally ingested lethal assisted suicide drugs while attending an assisted suicide death (Link). This story emphasized the fact that there is no independent oversight for assisted suicide. In late January we reported that a Vancouver doctor euthanized a man who was deemed to be incapable of consenting (Link). Dr Ellen Wiebe is Canada's most notorious euthanasia doctor. We also reported on Tyler Dunlop who was homeless and seeking death by euthanasia (Link).

Dr Leonie Herx

In early February we reported that the United Church approved a euthanasia prayer (Link). Soon after, a Canadian Health expert issued a warning to Scotland's parliament concerning Canada's euthanasia law (Link). In mid February, Canada's Special Joint Committee on Medical Aid in Dying issued a report calling on parliament to extend euthanasia to "mature minors" and by advanced directive (Link). According to the report, Canadian children would be able to be euthanized with or without parental consent (Link).

In March we published the article - Where the Churches stand on euthanasia (Link).

In April a court case was launched to declare California's assisted suicide law as unconstitutional (Link). The court case is continuing into 2024.

In early May an Ontario man was arrested for selling a suicide substance online (Link). In mid May Bill C-314, a bill that would have prohibited euthanasia for mental disorders, had it's first hour of debate in Canada's parliament (Link). We also reported that a Québec funeral home was offering euthanasia (Link).

Rose Finlay

In June, the Uniform Law Commission came to stalemate on proposed changes to Brain Death protocols (Link). In June we reported that a Canadian quadriplegic woman was approved to die by euthanasia as she waited for approval for disability benefits to enable her to live (Link). In late June we reported how the Ontario government hides the cost of euthanasia (Link). We also reported that the euthanasia lobby had launched a campaign to force a Catholic hospital in BC to provide euthanasia (Link). In December, the BC government expropriated property from the Catholic hospital to build a killing center next to the Catholic hospital (Link). 

In early July the German Bundestag rejected bills to legalize assisted suicide (Link). Later in July a Canadian military veteran slammed the Canadian government for the euthanasia deaths of veterans with PTSD (Link). We also reported that a transgendered person, who was denied euthanasia, requested it based on post surgical pain and regret (Link).

Kathryn Mentler

In August we reported that a Canadian woman was offered euthanasia as a "treatment" during a mental health crisis (Link).

In September we reported that a Belgian doctor completed a euthanasia death with a pillow (Link). In mid-September I wrote about my experience visiting the Memorial to the Victims of Euthanasia in Berlin (Link).

In mid-October, Bill C-314, that would have prevented euthanasia for mental illness, was defeated (Link). In late-October Health Canada reported that there were 13,241 assisted deaths in 2022 representing 4.1% of all deaths (Link).

In November I published an article titled: Canada's euthanasia law has gone "mad" (Link). This article was made into a pamphlet that can be ordered from EPC (Ordering Link).

In December, Tyler Dunlop, who had applied to die by euthanasia, published a book titled: Therefore Choose Life - My Journey from Hopelessness to Hope (Link). Order the book from EPC (Order Link). We reported that a BC woman, who had cancer and offered euthanasia, was successfully treated in the US (Link). Soon after we reported that a BC cancer patient died by euthanasia after BC Cancer couldn't provide him chemotherapy (Link). Waiting lists for cancer treatment in Canada continues to get worse.

In December Canada's Justice Minister announced that the government may "pause" it's plan to extend euthanasia to people with mental illness (Link). EPC launched a petition campaign to prevent the extension of euthanasia to people with mental illness (Link).

You are not alone. The Life-Protecting Power of Attorney for Personal Care may save your life (Link).

We encourage you to renew/become a member of EPC ($25) (Link).

Canada's government may pause the implementation of euthanasia for mental illness.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Stephanie Taylor reported for the Canadian Press on December 15 that Canada may once again pause the expansion of euthanasia to people with mental illness alone.

When Canada expanded the euthanasia law in March 2021 (Bill C-7), less than five years after legalizing euthanasia, one of the expansions in the law was euthanasia for mental illness alone. At that time the government decided to approve euthanasia for mental illness but it included a two-year moratorium to give the government time to prepare for this expansion.

Earlier this year the government delayed the implementation of euthanasia for mental illness for another year. Canada's is currently scheduled to permit euthanasia for psychological conditions on March 17, 2024. The result of this decision will be more killing, except that people with psychiatric conditions who will also be abandoned to death. 

Justice Minister Arif Virani stated on Wednesday that the government is considering "hitting the pause button" on euthanasia for mental illness. Taylor reported for the Canadian Press that:

The federal government is considering whether to pause its original plan tobroaden the rules that govern medically assisted dying so they include patients whose only underlying condition is a mental disorder.

"We're weighing our options," Justice Minister Arif Virani said Wednesday.

It would be the second time the federal Liberals have hit pause on the plan. The first came in February, when the government decided to impose a one-year delay amid widespread public and political concern.

Many organizations that are working to stop Canada from implementing euthanasia for mental illness are applauding the statement by the Justice Minister. 

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition is pleased that Virani may hit the "pause button" on euthanasia for mental illness, but Virani has only said that it may happen.

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition is working on a political lobbying strategy with the hope of convincing the Justice Minister to not only hit the "pause button" but to reverse the governments plans to permit euthanasia for mental illness.

Ed Fast

Taylor, in her Canadian Press report, spoke to the Hon Ed Fast who sponsored bill C-314 that, if passed, would have reversed the government's implementation of euthanasia for mental illness. Taylor wrote:

Conservative MP Ed Fast sees Virani's comments as a shift.

"It's the first time I've seen a glimmer of hope come from the Liberal government that they're prepared to reconsider their decision to move ahead."

Earlier this year, Fast's private member's bill, which would have amended the Criminal Code to expressly prohibit the use of a mental disorder as a basis for choosing medical help to end one's life, came to a vote in the House of Commons

While it was defeated with the majority of Liberal and Bloc Quebecois MPs opposing it, eight Liberal MPs broke ranks. Twenty-four NDP MPs also voted for the private member's bill, with none opposed.

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition agrees that the Hon Ed Fast did an excellent job of gaining support for Bill C-314 and that led to the government considering the reversal of their position on euthanasia for mental illness.

Taylor further reported that:

Other organizations, like the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, note there is no clear medical consensus on what constitutes a "grievous and irremediable" mental illness, or on how to distinguish that from suicidality.

The centre was pleased to hear the government was open to another delay, Dr. Tarek Rajji, who chairs its medical advisory committee, said in a statement.

The Canadian Mental Health Association also released a statement supporting a delay beyond March, saying the recent consultations done by provinces have been "significantly expedited" to meet the current timelines.

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition will launch a new campaign in January to convince Members of Parliament that people with mental health concerns should not be abandoned to death by MAiD.

More articles on this topic:

• Has Canada's euthanasia law gone too far? (Link)
• Psychiatrists: Do we offer hope or do we offer death (Link).
• The majority of Canadian oppose euthanasia for mental health (Link).
• Canada's euthanasia law is the most permissive in the world (Link).
• Canada to delay implementing euthanasia for mental illness (Link).
• Toronto Star: Canada is going too far with euthanasia (Link).
• Globe and Mail Editorial: No to euthanasia for mental disorders (Link).
• Euthanasia panel member quit: Proposals don't adequately protect Canadians with mental illness (Link).
• Offering euthanasia to a suicidal person leads to premature deaths (Link).
• Euthanizing the mentally ill without providing proper supports is reprehensible (Link).
• Euthanasia for mental illness. Killing people with an uncertain prognosis (Link).
• Profound social change with euthanasia for mental illness (Link).

Canada’s euthanasia programme flirting with eugenics

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Kevin Yuill

Kevin Yuill, former professor of American Studies at the University of Sunderland in the UK, was published by Spiked on October 25, 2023 about his concern that Canada's euthanasia program is eugenic.

Yuill, who recently visited Canada writes:

A few weeks ago, I accidentally toured one of the awful tent cities in Vancouver, Canada. At the corner of Main Street and Hastings Avenue, homeless drug addicts spread their few possessions out on blankets and cover the pavement for blocks on end. It is only a short distance from the restaurants and attractions of this fairly affluent city and is easy to stray into.

So long as they are not violent, homeless addicts are generally ignored across the city. Vancouverites, in that polite Canadian way, accept their presence and do what they can to be kind. Nonetheless, everyone I met spoke about the ‘crisis’ of addicts in Vancouver, where drugs have effectively been decriminalised.

Now, the Canadian authorities seem to have come up with a novel, frightening solution to the crisis: euthanasia.

Yuill explains: 

"Canadians are eligible for the medical assistance in dying (MAID) programme if they have a ‘grievous and irremediable medical condition’, such as a serious physical illness or disability. If their condition has put them in an advanced state of irreversible decline and caused enduring physical or psychological suffering, they may request to be allowed euthanasia."

Yuill states that this is horrific enough but in March 2024 "those suffering from mental illnesses – with no physical ailments necessary – will also be eligible for MAID. That includes people with substance-use disorders."

Yuill explains:

Last week, a framework for assessing people with substance-use disorders for MAID was discussed at the annual conference for the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine in British Columbia. Dr David Martell (ironically a winner of the Family Physician of the Year award) was one of the most vocal supporters of expanding MAID to drug addicts. Dr Martell declared that ‘it’s not fair to exclude people from eligibility purely because their mental disorder might either partly or in full be a substance-use disorder. It has to do with treating people equally.’

Dr Martell went on to explain that doctors will need to distinguish between somebody who has a ‘reasoned wish to die’ and someone who is merely suicidal. A person who is ‘thinking in a calm and measured way about wanting [their] suffering to end’, Martell said, might be considered for MAID. But he conceded that a person can exhibit signs of both suicidality and a calm and measured wish to die, and that it would be ‘fairly impossible’ to make the distinction if the person being assessed were intoxicated.

Yuill quotes from Christopher Lyons, whose suicidal father died by euthanasia, who stated:

The lines of informed consent are extremely blurred, especially when drugs and alcohol are involved.

Yuill explains that Canada's parliament recently defeated Bill C-314, a bill that would have reversed the law that will permit euthanasia for mental illness, even though a recent poll found that only 3 out of 10 Canadians support euthanasia for mental illness.

Yuill provides a history lesson on eugenics:

For instance, in the first few years of the 20th century, Dr Ella K Dearborn cheerfully called for ‘euthanasia for the incurably ill, insane, criminals and degenerates’. Similarly, in 1906, sociologist L Graham Crozier agreed with her medical compatriot: ‘I would personally rather administer chloroform to the poor, starving children of New York, Philadelphia, Chicago and other American cities, than to see them living as they must in squalor and misery.’

In an echo of today’s advocates for legalised assisted dying, Dr Dearborn once thundered: ‘Do not let sentiment or superstition retard the wheels of worldwide progress.’ In Canada, this so-called progress shows no sign of stopping. In the eight years since MAID was legalised for the terminally ill, it has been expanded to disabled people, homeless people and prisoners. And soon drug addicts will be next.

Yuill states that the most humane solution is to provide treatment for addicts, not death, and asks:

Is that really such an unreasonable thing to ask for?

Previous articles by Kevin Yuill: (Link to articles)

Parliament to re-examine the expansion of euthanasia to people with mental illness

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Stephanie Levitz reported on October 18 for the Toronto Star that after Bill C-314 was defeated all members of Parliament agreed:

"to recall the special joint committee on medical assistance in dying (MAID) to provide further oversight. The move came after a failed effort by a Conservative MP to repeal access to MAID for people whose sole underlying medical condition is a mental disorder."

Euthanasia Prevention Coalition is pleased that the government will consider further oversight of the law, however, we are not confident that the Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying, which is stacked with pro-euthanasia MP's and Senators,will offer any substantive changes.

Bill C-314, the Mental Health Protection Act, sponsored by the Hon. Ed Fast (CPC), was narrowly defeated by a vote of 167 to 150 at second reading in Parliament on Wednesday October 18, 2023.

The Bill C-314 vote indicated that the Parliament of Canada is divided on the issue of euthanasia for mental illness with EVERY Conservative, NDP and Green MP and 8 Liberal MPs voting YES.

Bill C-314 would have protected people who are living with mental illness from medical assistance in dying (euthanasia). The latest Angus Reid Institute survey indicates that only 28% of Canadians support euthanasia for mental illness while 82% of Canadians stated that mental health care should be improved before euthanasia for mental illness is considered. 

Many groups supported Bill C-314 including the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention and the Society of Canadian Psychiatry.

Levitz reported that the Bill C-314 vote indicated that the issue had changed in parliament with 8 Liberal MPs and every NDP MP voting YES on Bill C-314.

Hon. Ed Fast

The Hon. Ed Fast, sponsor of Bill C-314, stated in his press release:

“Conservatives will continue to fight for those who are left behind by this legislation, and we will not support the expansion of MAID to include mental illness,”

“Have we gone too far and too fast with Canada’s assisted suicide program? Will we evolve into a culture of death as the preferred option for those who suffer from mental illness or will we choose life?”

The Special Joint Committee will release their report on January 31, 2024

Bill C-314 defeated. Parliament divided on euthanasia for mental illness

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Bill C-314, the Mental Health Protection Act, sponsored by the Hon. Ed Fast (CPC), was narrowly defeated by a vote of 167 to 150 at second reading in Canada's Parliament on Wednesday October 18, 2023.

The vote on Bill C-314 indicates that Canada's Parliament is divided on the issue of euthanasia for mental illness. 

• Every Conservative (CPC) MP voted YES to C-314. 
• Every NDP MP voted YES to C-314.
• Both Green MPs voted YES to C-314
• 8 Liberal MPs voted YES to C-314 
• 1 Independent MP voted YES to C-314

Hon. Ed Fast

Sadly, every Bloc MP and most Liberal MPs voted NO to C-314.

The good news is that even though the Liberals pressured their MPs to oppose Bill C-314, eight Liberal MPs still voted YES. 

Thank you to Hon. Ed Fast for sponsoring Bill C-314 and for his professional campaign in support of the bill. Thank you to all of the Conservative MPs, to all of the NDP MPs, to the courageous Liberal MPs, and to all others who supported Bill C-314.

On March 17, 2021 Parliament passed Bill C-7 which expanded Canada's euthanasia law by: 

• removing the "terminal illness" requirement, 
• removing the 10-day reflection period when someone is deemed to be "terminally ill", 
• adding a 90-day waiting period for someone who is approved for euthanasia but not "terminally ill"
• permitting euthanasia for someone who is incompetent but previously approved for euthanasia,
• permitted euthanasia for someone with mental illness alone. Euthanasia for mental illness alone will become officially legal on March 17, 2024.
  

Bill C-314 would have protected people who are living with mental illness from medical assistance in dying (euthanasia). The latest Angus Reid Institute survey indicates that only 28% of Canadians support euthanasia for mental illness while 82% of Canadians stated that mental health care should be improved before euthanasia for mental illness is considered. 

Many groups supported Bill C-314 including the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention and the Society of Canadian Psychiatry.

Anike Morrison

Anike Morrison, who lives with a severe mental health condition, stated at the EPC Press Conference that in 2018 she fell into such a deep depression that she was hospitalized 5 times. She said that if MAiD had been presented as an option to her at that time as a solution to her emotional pain and distress:

I may not be here today. It was a very rough time. It was only through the care of the psychiatrists, psychologists, pharmacists and  social workers that I was able to get better and move through that time in my life.

Anike has completed her undergraduate degree, has travelled, and most importantly, loves her life. She is on the "other" side of that dark period.

This is not a "settled" issue. We will not be silent in the face of killing.

People with mental healthcare needs are valuable. Vote Yes on Bill C-314.

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition supports Bill C-314 and we urge our supporters to contact their Members of Parliament to support Bill C-314. This is important as several Liberal and NDP MP's have indicated that they plan or want to support Bill C-314. Contact your Member of Parliament (MP Contact Link) 

Open Letter to MPs: Vote Yes for Bill C314: Stop MAID for Canadians with only Mental Health Challenges

Dr Paul Saba

Bill C-7 came into effect on March 17, 2021 and will allow people with only a mental disorder to be euthanized as of March 17, 2024. This, despite the overwhelming evidence that people with mental disorders can be treated, and that most psychiatrists cannot determine which patient has an irremediable (irreversible and treatable) condition. (Link to the study).

According to Montreal lawyer, Natalia Manole, from a legal standpoint, those with mental disorders requesting medical assistance in dying (MAID), do not meet the condition of free and informed consent. “So how can we legalize medical aid in dying for people with mental illness, knowing that the desire to die is in most cases a symptom of mental illness? In other words, consent would be vitiated in most cases." (Commission spéciale sur l'évolution de la Loi concernant les soins de fin de vie, August 19, 2021).” (Link to the Commission report).

Bill C-314 which will be voted on October 18 in Ottawa, will prevent euthanasia (MAID) for people with mental health disorders as the sole criterion.

Some mental health disorders include: generalized anxiety, depression, personality disorders, bipolar disorder, attention deficit disorder, autism, and schizophrenia.

• In most cases, the desire to die is a symptom of mental illness. (Link to the study).
• 90% of people who end their lives were affected by a mental disorder at the time of their suicide.
• Most people who have attempted or completed suicide don’t want to die; rather, they want to escape their emotional distress (Link to the information). 
• According to a Harvard School of Public Health study, 9 out of 10 people who attempted suicide but were unsuccessful in their attempt, did not commit suicide following treatment. With the right treatment, suicide disappeared. (Link to the Harvard study).
• Most people with mental disorders need the evaluation and support of psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers. Many live in precarious financial and social situations. They need financial support, including affordable, housing, and food security.
• The Canadian social and healthcare system is deficient for people with mental health problems.
• In Quebec, the average waiting time between referral to a psychiatrist and treatment is 5 months.
• Psychologists are in short supply and rarely accessible in the public system.

It is time for Members of Parliament to stand in solidarity and support people with mental health disorders. They need care, treatment and support. They must not be euthanized (MAID). Parliamentarians must stop MAID for those with mental disorders.

Vote yes on Bill C-314.

People with mental healthcare challenges are valuable.

For more information:
Dr. Paul Saba
514-886-3447
pauljsaba@gmail.com